Carrie Underwood, ‘Blown Away’ – Song Review

'Blown Away' is the signature song on Carrie Underwood's new album of the same name. It's the dangerous storm cloud that looms over the other tracks on a surprisingly dark project. Is this really the same woman who cut 'All-American Girl?' This is what critics are talking about when they hammer the importance of subtly reinventing one's self with each new album. The singer has built to this point over three previous albums.

Underwood says she enjoys playing a character in her most dramatic songs. Clearly the plot isn't one she can personally relate to, but she sells the story with the conviction and emotion of a hard-nosed victim of abuse.

"Shatter every window 'til it’s all blown away / Every brick, every board, every slamming door blown away / 'Til there’s nothing left standing, nothing left of yesterday / Every tear-soaked whiskey memory blown away / Blown away," Underwood sings during the cathartic chorus as the sound of a tympani booms like thunder.

The pre-chorus is four lines of music as good as anything the 29-year-0ld has ever recorded. Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins wrote the song. They also wrote 'Before He Cheats.' When it's said and done both will be amongst the Top 5 Carrie Underwood songs of all time.

"There’s not enough rain in Oklahoma / To wash the sins out of that house / There’s not enough wind in Oklahoma / To rip the nails out of the past."

One misses just how dark this song is by allowing himself to get wrapped up in the pop-country production and orchestration (it's easy to imagine this as a crossover hit). Underwood is not only singing about alcoholism and abuse, she's telling a story of cold-blooded vengeance.

"She heard those sirens screaming out / Her daddy laid there passed out on the couch / She locked herself in the cellar / Listened to the screaming of the wind / Some people called it taking shelter / She called it sweet revenge," she sings during the second verse as a cold shiver crawls up our spine.

'Blown Away' will rub some the wrong way, but the best songs always do. Underwood needs to be congratulated for throwing safety to the winds of Oklahoma. This song is dangerous, but irresistible.